Tag: Vickie Kunz

MHA Monday Report July 21, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

CMS Releases Medicare 2026 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service outpatient prospective payment system effective Jan. 1, 2026. The proposed rule: Provides a net 0.9% increase …

On Demand Webinar: Balancing the Complexities of the Healthcare Workforce in Rural Markets

MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare recently hosted the webinar Balancing the Complexities of the Healthcare Workforce in Rural Markets. Speakers  John Higgins, vice president of talent management, Essentia Health, …

Vaccination Resources Available for Healthcare Providers

The MHA remains committed to supporting vaccination efforts across the state by providing healthcare professionals with timely resources, updated guidance and tools to strengthen public health outreach. The state of Michigan has reported 18 measles …

MDHHS Proposes Policy Changes to Streamline Mental Health Assessments for Youth

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released a proposed policy to revise the Michigan Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (MichiCANS) screening tool for individuals under age 21. The policy aims …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Examines The Boards Role in Workforce Strategy

The July edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), highlights board-level strategies for advancing leadership development, governance structure, care transformation and the use of AI in healthcare data analysis. …

Keckley Report

AMA, AHA Board Meetings this week: Shared Concerns, Divergent Positioning

“This week, two boards with much on the line in U.S. healthcare will convene:

  • The American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees will meet in San Diego.
  • The American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees will meet in Nashville.

Media scrutiny: Media attention to physicians and hospitals is significant and increasing. Winning the hearts and minds of populations is complicated and expensive. Polling suggests the public trusts physicians, nurses and pharmacists more than hospitals, insurers and drug companies but concerns about affordability and institutional mistrust are mounting for all.”

Paul Keckley, July 13, 2025

MHA in the News

The MHA continued to receive media coverage during the week of July 14 about the impacts of the federal budget reconciliation bill, officially referred to as the One Big Beautiful Big Act (OBBBA). Coverage includes …

CMS Releases Medicare 2026 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

Member News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The proposed rule:

  • Provides a net 0.9% increase to the OPPS conversion factor from $89.17 to $89.96 for hospitals enrolled in Medicare before Jan. 1, 2018. The update includes a 3.2% market basket update, mandated 0.8 percentage point productivity adjustment, other budget neutrality adjustments and a 2% reduction for the 340B remedy offset (described below). Hospitals that fail to meet outpatient quality reporting program requirements are subject to an additional two-percentage point reduction.
  • Shortens the timeline for OPPS hospitals to repay the $7.8 billion received through higher payments for non-drug services in 2018-2022 due to the CMS’ budget-neutral policy that cut payments to 340B hospitals. The CMS proposes a 2% annual reduction to the OPPS conversion factor to repay the full $7.8 billion by 2031, up from the initially proposed 0.5% annual reduction over 16 years.
  • Implements a site neutral payment policy for drug administration services provided in grandfathered off-campus hospital outpatient departments. The CMS proposed to pay a physician fee schedule equivalent rate for 61 HCPCS codes assigned to drug administration ambulatory payment classifications, which equates to roughly 40% of the OPPS rate. Rural sole community hospitals are exempt from this cut.
  • Includes a new drug acquisition cost survey for all OPPS hospitals in late 2025 or early 2026 for separately payable drugs, with survey results to be used to set 2027 rates for separately payable drugs.
  • Eliminates the inpatient only (IPO) list over three years, beginning with the removal of 285 mostly musculoskeletal services in 2026, making these procedures payable in outpatient settings.
  • Decreases the outlier fixed-dollar threshold by 11.2% from the current $7,175 to $6,450.
  • Updates the Outpatient, Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Quality Reporting Programs, including removing four measures related to COVID-19 vaccination of health care personnel and health equity. For the Outpatient and REH programs, the CMS proposes a new e-measure on timeliness of emergency department care and establishing requirements for REHs to report e-measures. The CMS also proposes updates to the methodology used to calculate the Overall Hospital Star Ratings that would limit any hospital in the bottom safety quartile to a maximum of four stars and in 2027, drop such hospitals one full star.
  • Updates the ASC covered procedures list to add 276 procedures plus an additional 271 procedures proposed for removal from the 2026 IPO list.
  • Requires hospitals to report payer-specific Medicare Advantage payment rates on their Medicare cost report for periods ending on or after Jan. 1, 2026. The CMS plans to use this data for a proposed fiscal year 2029 methodology change in calculating inpatient Medicare severity diagnosis related group (MS-DRG) relative weights to reflect relative market-based pricing.
  • Requires hospital to disclose detailed ranges of rates negotiated with health insurance plans (known as allowed amounts) by updating hospital price transparency regulations beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to require four new data elements. Hospitals must publish 10th-percentile, median and 90th-percentile allowed amounts (plus counts) instead of a single estimated allowed amount.
  • Revises the definition of direct supervision for cardiac rehabilitation, intensive cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services and diagnostic services (excluding service with a global surgery indicator of 010 or 090) provided to hospital outpatients to permanently allow virtual direct supervision.

The MHA will provide a hospital-specific impact analysis within the next few weeks and encourages hospitals to contact Vickie Kunz by Sept. 2, regarding issues identified. Hospitals are encouraged to review the proposed rule and its impact on operations and submit comments to the CMS by Sept. 15. The CMS is expected to release a final rule in early November for the Jan. 1, 2026 effective date. Members with questions may contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

CMS Releases Home Health PPS Proposed Rule

Member News

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule updating the home health (HH) prospective payment system (PPS) for calendar year (CY) 2026.

Highlights of the proposed rule include:

  • A 6% rate cut from the current $2,057.35 to $1,933.61 after the net 2.4%  market basket update, an 8.3% cut due to budget neutrality requirements of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and a 0.5% decrease related to outlier payments and other adjustments. Providers who fail to submit quality data are subject to an additional 2% point reduction.
  • A higher fixed-dollar loss ratio of 0.46, up from 0.35, expected to decrease outlier payments by 0.5% of total payments. The CMS proposes to maintain the existing 0.8 loss-sharing ratio.
  • Recalibration of relative weights for the PDGM using CY 2024 data.
  • Removing the face-to-face encounter restriction. Currently the CMS allows nonphysician practitioners to perform the required face-to-face encounter regardless of whether they were the certifying practitioner or previously cared for the patient. However, if a physician performed the face-to-face encounter, they were required to be the certifying physician or have previously cared for the patient. The CMS proposes to remove this restriction, allowing physicians to perform the face-to-face encounter regardless of whether they are the certifying physician or previously cared for the patient.
  • Removing the measure that assesses the percentage of patients receiving COVID-19 vaccinations from the HH quality reporting program (QRP). The proposal also requests information on changing the data submission deadline for HH QRP data, advancing digital quality measures and new measure concepts for the HH QRP.
  • Adding four new measures to the HH value-based purchasing program—Medicare Spending per Beneficiary and three measures assessing patient functional improvement in dressing and bathing.
  • New and revised provider enrollment provisions to reduce improper payments, including retroactive revocation of a provider’s Medicare enrollment such as if the beneficiary attest that the provider did not provide the service that was claimed. The CMS also proposed to deactivate an enrolled physician or practitioner’s billing privileges if they have not ordered or certified services for 12 consecutive months.
  • The CMS is collecting feedback on Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation”.

The MHA will provide members with an estimated impact analysis in the next several weeks and encourages members to contact Vickie Kunz regarding issues identified by Aug. 22. The CMS will accept comments on the HH proposed rule until Sept. 2. Members with questions should contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 23, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

Senate Health Policy Holds Testimony on Opioid Legislation

The Senate Health Policy Committee held testimony on legislation related to treating patients with opioid use disorders during the week of June 16. Collectively, Senate Bills 397–405 make numerous changes to improve coverage and access for Michiganders to receive …

MHA Shares Recent Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on May 2025 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service and …

Recording and Materials Available from Medicare Quality Based Program Webinars

The MHA recently partnered with DataGen to host two webinars focused on the three Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) quality-based programs. These programs, mandated by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, can reduce hospital inpatient FFS payments …

MHA Guide to Behavioral Health Sites of Care Now Available

In an effort to help Michigan communities make informed decisions about where to seek behavioral healthcare services, the MHA has developed the Guide to Michigan’s Behavioral Healthcare Crisis Continuum. This material offers a broad overview of …

Michigan CNOs Convene at MHA Headquarters for Statewide Meeting

Chief nursing officers from across Michigan convened June 12 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos for a statewide, in-person meeting focused on healthcare policy, leadership and workforce safety. The meeting was led by Amy Brown, …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Examines How Boards are Reimagining Workforce

The June edition of Trustee Insights, a monthly digital publication from the American Hospital Association, highlights how board members can support workforce planning and leverage innovation to strengthen healthcare delivery. One article outlines key questions …

Keckley Report

The May 2025 CPI Report: Good News, Bad News for Healthcare

“Last Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its Consumer Price Index Report for May, 2025: “The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis in May, after rising 0.2% in April. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index increased 2.4% before seasonal adjustment.” …

The public’s appetite to slow health spending, expose prices and costs and address the system’s waste, fraud and abuse is strong and growing. It’s certain to figure prominently in Congress’ budget negotiations and increasingly in household spending decisions.

The CPI is a lag indicator. It does not foretell the health economy of the future. That’s the discussion that’s needed.”

Paul Keckley, June 16, 2025

News to Know

MHA Endorsed Business Partner SUNRx is inviting 340B member hospitals to register for the Regional 340B Roundtable July 8 at Belterra Resort in Florence, IN.

 

MHA in the News

The Becker’s Healthcare Podcast published an episode June 16 that features MHA CEO Brian Peters joining host Scott Becker to discuss the current healthcare landscape and what the future looks like. Peters spent time discussing …

Recording and Materials Available from Medicare Quality Based Program Webinars

Member News

The MHA recently partnered with DataGen to host two webinars focused on the three Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) quality-based programs. These programs, mandated by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, can reduce hospital inpatient FFS payments by up to 6% based on performance.

The Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) program is funded by a 2% contribution from inpatient operating payments of eligible prospective payment system hospitals with these funds, totaling approximately $1.7 billion, redistributed among hospitals nationally. Each hospital’s total performance score is determined based on four program domains, comprised of various measures. Materials and the recording of the June 11 webinar are available.

The second webinar, focusing on the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (RRP) and Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC) Reduction Programs, was also held. The RRP evaluates Medicare FFS patients with six medical conditions and penalizes hospitals for exceeding expected readmission rates. The HAC program evaluates performance on six measures and penalizes hospitals in the worst performing quartile compared to all other eligible hospitals nationally. For these two programs, hospitals can remain whole or be subject to payment penalties of up to 3% for the RRP and 1% for the HAC program, with all penalties benefiting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Materials and the recording from the June 17 webinar are also available.

The MHA recently provided prospective payment system hospitals with the latest VBP and HAC program estimates through the hospital association reporting portal.

Members with questions should contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 2, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

MHA and DataGen to Host Upcoming Medicare Quality-Based Program Webinars

The MHA has partnered with DataGen to host two upcoming webinars focused on the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) quality-based programs which can reduce hospital inpatient FFS payments by up to 6% based on performance. The webinars …

MHA Releases Executive Summary of Recent MDHHS Blood Lead Testing Mandate Rules

The MHA recently released an executive summary regarding the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) adoption of new administrative rules establishing universal blood lead testing requirements for minors across the state. The goal of …

CMS Issues New Guidance on Hospital Price Transparency Requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated guidance May 22 related to hospital price transparency requirements under Executive Order 14221, “Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate and Actionable …

Language, Trust and Care: Reflections from the AHA Behavioral Health Workshop

I had the opportunity to attend at the end of April a Behavioral Health Workshop in New Orleans hosted by the American Hospital Association. This interactive event brought together hospital leaders, clinical teams and behavioral health professionals to co-design care

Keckley Report

The Summer of 2025 for U.S. Healthcare: What Organizations should Expect

“Last Thursday, the Make America Healthy Again Commission released its 68-page report “Making America’s Children Healthy Again Assessment” featuring familiar themes—the inadequacy of attention to chronic disease by the health system, the “over-medicalization” of patient care vis a vis prescription medicines et al, the contamination of the food-supply by harmful ingredients, and more. HHS Secretary Kennedy, EPA Administrator Zeldin and Agriculture Secretary Rollins pledged war on the corporate healthcare system ‘that has failed the public’ and an all-of-government approach to remedies for burgeoning chronic care needs. …

As MAHA promotes its agenda, Congress passes a budget and MAGA advances its anti-establishment agenda vis a vis DOGE et al, healthcare operators will be in limbo. The dust will settle somewhat this summer, but longer-term bets will be modified for most organizations as compliance risks change, state responsibilities expand, capital markets react and Campaign 2026 unfolds.

And in most households, concern about the affordability of medical care will elevate as federal and state funding cuts force higher out of pocket costs on consumers and demand for lower prices.

The summer will be busy for everyone in healthcare.”

Paul Keckley, May 27, 2025

Laura AppelMHA in the News

WLUC TV6 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula published a story May 29 on the shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds in Michigan, placing a heavy focus on the testimony the MHA delivered May 20 before the House …

MHA and DataGen to Host Upcoming Medicare Quality-Based Program Webinars

Member News

The MHA has partnered with DataGen to host two upcoming webinars focused on the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) quality-based programs which can reduce hospital inpatient FFS payments by up to 6% based on performance. The webinars are free to attend, but registration is required.

DataGen Overview of Medicare’s Value-Based Purchasing Program & Analyses for MHA

This session, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 11, will review the Medicare value-based purchasing program, which evaluates hospital performance on measures across four domains. The CMS withholds 2% from Medicare FFS inpatient claims, totaling approximately $1.7 billion nationally, and redistributes these funds based on performance.

DataGen Overview of Medicare’s RRP/HAC Programs & Analyses for MHA

This session, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 17, will review the Medicare readmissions reduction (RRP) and hospital acquired conditions (HAC) reduction programs. The RRP evaluates readmissions for six medical conditions, with hospitals subject to penalties of up to 3% on Medicare inpatient payments for all FFS discharges. The HAC program assesses hospital performance using Medicare claims and Centers for Disease Control measures and imposes a 1% payment reduction to Medicare FFS payments for 25% of hospitals nationally.

Hospital quality department and finance staff are encouraged to register. The webinars will be recorded and available for future reference. Members with questions should contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report April 28, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

MHA Testifies on Nurse Licensure Compact Bills, Senate Passes Prescription Drug Affordability Board and Momnibus Legislation

The House Health Policy heard testimony from the MHA in support of creating a nurse licensure compact and the Senate voted to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in the state of Michigan during the …

GME Capitol Day Approaches May 21

The MHA is hosting the 2025 MHA Graduate Medical Education (GME) Capitol Day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 21 in Lansing. The event is an opportunity for Michigan’s physician residents from teaching hospitals and academic …

CMS Releases FY 2026 Proposed Rule for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient psychiatric facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Key provisions of the proposed rule include: Increasing the …

MHA Unemployment Compensation Program Receives Award for Outstanding Performance

The MHA Unemployment Compensation Program (UCP) was recognized by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) April 24 for the MHA UCP’s commitment to utilizing the NASWA’s nationwide, web-based system SIDES for receiving new claims and responding to …

CMS Releases FY 2026 Proposed Rule for Skilled Nursing Facilities

The CMS recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Key provisions of the proposed rule include: Increasing the per-diem …

Celebrate Patient Experience Week with Upcoming Webinars

The MHA is offering ways for hospital staff to engage during Patient Experience Week (April 28-May 2), to support and amplify patient-centered care. The upcoming Patient and Family Engagement Improvement Sprint webinar series, hosted …

CMS Releases FY 2026 Proposed Rule for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

The CMS recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Key provisions of the proposed rule include: Increasing the …

MHA Virtual Member Forum Focuses on Cyberattack Response

The MHA, in conjunction with its statewide Health Information Technology Strategy Committee, is hosting a cybersecurity and cyberattack response virtual member forum from 9:30 to 11 a.m. May 9. This free, members-only event features six …

The Power of Patient-Centered Care

It’s no secret that patient experience within hospitals and health systems has evolved over the years – especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. With Patient Experience Week (PX Week) around the corner, it’s a good time to recognize the …

Keckley Report

Tax Exempt Status for Not-for-Profit Hospitals: The Debate Ahead

“Tax exemptions for hospitals are not a new topic inside healthcare, but lately they’ve drawn outside attention from regulators and in media. They seem to be asking ‘Do not-for-profit hospitals deserve their tax breaks?’ …

Hospitals face a headwind, especially those that are tax-exempt. Every U.S. hospital is reeling from the uncertainty surrounding the Kennedy (HHS)-Oz (CMS)-Makary (FDA) trifecta that will regulate hospital affairs in the next few months. Every hospital is feeling heat from disgruntled physicians and worn-out frontline caregivers. Every hospital is worried about how tariffs will impact supply chain costs and all are taking a cautious approach to major capital projects. And all face increased pushback from state legislators who think price controls on hospitals might be the answer.

For Rick Pollack and team at the American Hospital Association, it’s not business as usual. The hospital big tent is under duress. And NFP tax exempt hospitals might be where it’s hottest. Large employers have targeted large NFP systems for cost reduction and Congress appears poised to impose restrictions on NFPs intended to rein-in what some consider excesses under the protection of tax-exempt status. …

Spending in healthcare at current levels is not sustainable. NFP system say the health of the communities they serve is their highest priority, though many limit their attention to lucrative services while neglecting others that might pay longer-term dividends in public health.

Utopian? Yes, but necessary. Actions not taken by NFP systems to demonstrate they deserve their tax exemptions is risky. And lack of will to adopt minimal standards will ultimately mean exemptions are linked to charity-care only.

In 2025 and beyond, tax exemptions for not-for-profit hospitals will garner attention. They’re not guaranteed and they’re under attack.”

Paul Keckley, April 21, 2025

New to KnowNews to Know

  • The MHA is issuing a request for proposal for a $2.5 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to hospital-based peer recovery coach services.
  • Registration is now open for the MHA Annual Membership Meeting June 25 through 27 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Members are encouraged to register by May 23 to attend this memorable event. 

Jim Lee speaks with Mid-Michigan NOW about AI.

MHA in the News

Jim Lee, senior vice president, data policy & analytics, MHA, appeared in a story about artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare aired by Mid-Michigan NOW on April 23. Lee discussed how AI is being used by …

CMS Releases FY 2026 Proposed Rule for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities

Member News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Key provisions of the proposed rule include:

  • Increasing the IPF PPS federal per diem base rate by a net 1.8% after all adjustments, from $876.53 to $891.99. IPFs that fail to comply with the CMS IPF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) requirements would be paid using a base rate of $874.57.
  • Increasing the Electroconvulsive Therapy payment per treatment by a net 1.8% from $661.52 to $673.19 for IPFs that comply with IPF QRP requirements and $660.04 for IPFs that fail to report data.
  • Increasing the labor-related share from the current 78.8% to 78.9%.
  • Increasing the cost outlier threshold by 3.3% from the current $38,110 to $39,360 to achieve the 2% target for outlier payments as compared to aggregate IPF payments, decreasing the number of cases that qualify for outlier payments.
  • Revising facility-level adjustment factors:
    • Rural adjustment from 1.17 to 1.18
    • Teaching adjustment from 0.5150 to 0.7981
  • Updating the IPF QRP to:
    • Remove four measures beginning with the calendar year 2024 reporting period and or FY 2026 payment determination:
      • Facility Commitment to Health Equity.
      • COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Health Care Personnel.
      • Screening for Social Drivers of Health.
      • Screen Positive Rate for Social Drivers of Health.
    • Modify the reporting period of the 30-day-Risk-Standardized All Cause Emergency Department Visit Following an Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Discharge measure (referred to as the IPF ED Visit measure) from a one year, calendar year to a two-year, fiscal year period.
  • Seeking feedback on three topics through requests for information for:
    • A potential future star ratings system for IPFs.
    • Future measures for the IPF QRP.
    • Using the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard for electronic exchange of healthcare information for patient assessment reporting.

The CMS is seeking comments on opportunities to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burdens on providers, suppliers, beneficiaries and other interested parties participating in the Medicare program.

The MHA will provide IPFs with a facility-specific impact analysis and additional details on the proposed rule in the near future. The MHA also encourages members to submit comments to the CMS by June 10 and to contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA with questions and  issues identified by May 27.

CMS Releases FY 2026 Proposed Rule for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

Member News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Key provisions of the proposed rule include:

  • Increasing the IRF PPS payment rate by a net 2.4% after all adjustments, from $18,907 to $19,364. IRFs that fail to comply with the CMS IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) requirements are subject to a two-percentage point reduction.
  • Increasing the labor-related share from the current 74.4% to 74.5%.
  • Decreasing the cost outlier threshold by 0.6% from the current $12,043 to $11,971 to achieve the 3% target for outlier payments as compared to aggregate IRF payments, decreasing the number of cases that qualify for outlier payments.
  • Changes to the IRF QRP that propose to:
    • Make optional the reporting of four standardized patient assessment data elements in the IRF Patient Assessment Instrument focused on social determinants of health beginning with Oct. 1, 2025 reporting. The items would be removed entirely by the FY 2028 IRF QRP.
    • Remove two COVID-19 vaccination measures from the IRF QRP for FY 2026.
    • Seek input on future IRF QRP measure concepts, reducing the burden of reporting patient assessment data and advancing digital quality measures in the IRF QRP.

The CMS is seeking comments on opportunities to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burdens on providers, suppliers, beneficiaries and other interested parties participating in the Medicare program.

The MHA will provide IRFs with a facility-specific impact analysis and additional details on the proposed rule in the near future. The MHA also encourages members to submit comments to the CMS by June 10 and to contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA with questions and  issues identified by May 27.